Interior and National Administration, Cabinet Secretary, Kipchumba Murkomen, has called on residents of Elgeyo Marakwet to register for national Identity Cards saying a total of 100,000 residents who are 18 years and above are yet to register for the important document.
Murkomen told the residents that they were denying themselves their rights as citizens by not registering, saying they cannot access government services without an ID.
Speaking in Iten, the CS said for one to register for SHA he/she required an ID, the same as registering for the purchase of affordable houses being constructed by the government, adding a parent required an ID for the child to get a birth certificate.
He, therefore, called on them to take advantage of the waiver of fees for IDs to get the all-important document saying IDs are not just for registering as voters.
The CS said that the government had invested in a digital system for the registration of birth certificates, saying one will be getting a birth certificate 3-7 days after registration.
Murkomen said the government will open up civil registration offices in all the sub-counties to enable residents to register, saying there are only two offices: one in Iten to serve the Keiyo region and another in Kapsowar to serve the Marakwet region.
The CS said his office will look for money to offer a facelift to the county headquarters. The building is ageing, having been constructed many years ago.
By Alice Wanjiru
